PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Also, an all-parties conference decided to protest at Nishat Chowk in Mingora, Swat Tuesday afternoon. Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, through a notification on March 28, announced extending the customs act to Malakand Division which comprises Swat, Malakand, Buner, Shangla, Upper Dir, Lower Dir and Chitral districts. These areas are part of the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (Pata). Leaders and stalwarts of all political forces opposed the decision and demanded its withdrawal.
Though Jhagra issued this notification on the request of the K-P government, PTI parliamentarians from Swat also denounced it. Meanwhile, leaders and stalwarts from opposition parties were holding the PTI government responsible for this action.
Anti-customs act movement
Hafiz Israr Ahmad was named chairman of an anti-customs act body which was announced at the all-parties conference. It was declared a rally would be held against the act at Nishat Chowk in Mingora, Swat on Tuesday at 2pm. Members of all political parties will attend the demonstration.
Hafiz Israr said all sorts of trade and business activity in Mingora will be brought to a halt. “The people of Malakand would never allow the imposition of the customs act in their area as it broke all promises made to people of the region.”
Ibrahim Khankhel, who leads the Swat Auto Rickshaw Association, held the PTI government responsible. He called on parliamentarians from all over Malakand to resign and join the public to protest.
Growing concern
Expressing her concern over the extension of Customs Act, 1969 to Malakand, PTI politician Mussarat Ahmad Zeb said this decision was a violation of the agreement in 1969 between successive central rulers and the late Miangul Abdul Jehan Zeb, commonly known as Wali-e-Swat. Zeb hails from Nowshera and is the daughter-in-law of Wali-e-Swat.
Awami National Party MPA Sardar Hussain Babak reminded the government about promises made to the rulers of three former princely states when they merged with Pakistan in 1969.
Both politicians urged the government to withdraw its decision at the soonest otherwise it would fuel further unrest amongst the people of Malakand Division.
Emergency meeting
Leaders of various political parties from Upper Dir held a meeting on Sunday at the district headquarters and denounced the extension of this law to Malakand.
Former federal minister Najamuddin Khan and former MPA Muhammad Anwar Khan represented Pakistan Peoples Party at the meeting. Mian Iftikhar and Said Anwar Khan were there from ANP. MPA Muhammad Ali Khan was there on behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami and Inamullah Khan represented Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. All of them collectively opposed the customs act and slammed both federal and provincial governments.
Staunch opposition
Anjuman-e-Tajran in Timergara also announced its resistance to the extension of the law and decided to protest against it. An emergency meeting was held with association member Anwaruddin in Timergara on Sunday.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th, 2016.
Correction: The print addition incorrectly stated the Customs Act of 1979. This has been corrected and the error is regretted.
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